Members of the Administration: President Mortimer, Dean Smith, Tom Bopp, David Robb

39 faculty, guests and others signed the guest list.

Chair Alex Malahoff opened the meeting at 3:05.

1. Minutes of the Congress meeting of February 18, 1998, were
approved.

2. President Mortimer addressed the Senate and expressed his
appreciation for the Senate's useful and beneficial advice and counsel,
citing athletic policy, admissions and the undergraduate experience Committee
as examples. Noting this was a week of rumors and newspaper articles about
possible program cuts, he said vigorous debate is sometimes misunderstood
by those who observe us, but this is a good university and faculty, you
are debating the right issues, and "get on with the debate."

Autonomy bill: Both houses have similar bills that are encouraging
for UH. "The Legislature does seem to be supporting us getting additional
degrees of freedom and that's a big deal in the long run."

Budget Cuts: It is still too early to tell what the result of
Legislative action will be. The President said he didn't have a list of
cuts in his pocket. Rumors have come from asking two faculty committees
to look at the situation. Better decisions come from vigorous debate and
we need to find a way to tell people outside the University that debate
is routine in a University. "Sometimes I'm asked to quiet someone and I
reply that I cannot, and I wouldn't if I could. I believe in academic debate."

3. Alex Malahoff reported on three Senate initiatives. The Faculty Ambassadors
program is doing well, UH Admissions Policy is being reviewed, and the
Undergraduate Experience Committee is ready to report.

4. Undergraduate Experience Committee Report: Ken Kipnis reviewed
the Committee's establishment and charge from the Senate, the six findings,
and the seven recommendations.

The six findings include:a. Manoa does not effectively and systematically mentor incoming first-time
freshmen, thereby encouraging their connection to our academic community.
There is no common academic challenge for freshmen, no shared vision of
an attractive, distinguishing experience that would build on our resources
as a research university.

b. Manoa does not ensure that foundational courses are taken early in
a student's academic career.

c. Manoa lacks co-curricular and extra curricular programs and resources
that would enhance the quality of academic life for freshmen.

d. Manoa does not prioritize the allocation of its institutional resources
to lower-division instruction nor does it adequately reward excellence
in that arena.

d. Feedback to Admissions Process: Freshmen grades in core courses should
be reviewed by the admissions staff in order to refine admissions standards
and recruitment practices.

e. Faculty Oversight: Appropriate faculty bodies should be employed
to encourage, facilitate, review, approve, and evaluate all course clusters:
to work with the Administration to coordinate and integrate co- and extra-curricular
programs into the clusters; and to generate, as needed, standards to ensure
that freshmen are adequately prepared for higher-level course work.

f. Administrative Commitment: The administration should provide funds
and resources and assign clear administrative responsibility to an office
commensurate with these tasks.

g. Extension of the UGE Committee for a second year to work with the
administration, on behalf of the Senate, in the process of implementing
and refining the recommendations.

Discussion from the floor followed, and included:

The recommendations were sent to the Senate by the Senate Executive
Committee with a recommendation to approve. Kathryn Hoffmann reported the
Arts and Science Executive Committee supported the recommendations. Eldon
Wagner reported CAPP had followed the Committee's progress carefully and
voted to accept the recommendations. They are an important step for the
University to take and the details are still to be worked out. Gwen Naguwa
reported the CSA also followed the Committee's work carefully, and strongly
supported the recommendations.

The assumptions of 1500 freshmen, cohorts of 15 to 20 students, 75-100
cohorts, 3-4 linked courses per cohort, and 225-400 clustered courses will
create problems for faculty organization student organization and a bureaucracy
to make the system work. An simpler alternative for the identified problems
might be preferential registration for freshmen and sophomores in core
courses, enhanced faculty advising and mentoring programs, and voluntary
cohorts.

The "simpler solution" produced an extended debate, including the following
points. (1) We should deal with the spirit of the recommendations and leave
the details to those who implement our policy. The report allows for working
out the details. (2) Cohort groups can be in larger classes, as a part
of the class. In Psychology, for example, there are 14 classes for freshmen
in various forms this semester, including ACE Program students in larger
classes. (3) Are cohorts needed? Cohorts get students out of the high school
mode and into a common university experience. (4) Freshmen only classes
may produce better learning environments than if upperclass students are
in the classes. (5) The University of Oregon recently held an orientation
in Hawaii for prospective students and its program featured cohorts, mentoring,
and orientation. "When I chose between a more expensive Oregon and a less
Expensive UH, I don't want my daughter to have a bad buy if chose UH for
the lower cost. I want us to make a commitment to the recommendations."
(6) A suggestion that administrative commitment to the program might be
demonstrated by assigning the program to an undergraduate dean drew criticism.
A committee member said the committee had argued about this, and wanted
to avoid a "lower level" person being given a big task without resources
to do it. (7) Not all students need cohort groups or the fixed clusters
of courses. What about a student with advanced placement credits? The Committee's
response was this is the type of fine tuning problem to be worked on at
the next stage. Also, if students come in with enough advanced placement
credits, perhaps they will not be freshmen and hence not in the program.

Vote was 25 yes, 8 no, and 5 abstentions The motion to send the report
and recommendations forward carried.

5. David Robb, Director of Admissions and Records, addressed
the Senate. He reported on admission requirements for freshmen and recruiting
efforts to raise the percentage of students admitted who accept. Thirty-one
percent of this year's 1,556 first-time freshmen were in the top 10 percent
of their graduation classes.

6. Summer Session/CCECS Reorganization: Eldon Wegner reported
on CAPP's review and introduced a proposed resolution supporting the reorganization.
CAPP's report and the resolution were available for the Senate. The proposal
is to merge Summer Session and the College of Continuing Education and
Community Service into a single administrative unit, which will have the
status of a college with a Dean. The unit will have responsibility for
the continuing education program, outreach education, lifelong learning,
distance education, and summer session, both at and from the Manoa campus.
The primary reason for the proposal is cost efficiency through the consolidation
of various administrative activities, including computer services, accounting
systems, and so forth.

The resolution passed with 30 yes, 0 no, and 1 abstention.

7. Admissions Resolution: Eldon Wegner reported on CAPP's review
of Manoa's Admission Policy and a working arrangement between the CAPP
Admissions Subcommittee and Admissions and Records. He introduced a resolution
that the distributed statement of Admissions Policies and Practices should
be approved as the official University of Hawai`i at Manoa Admissions Policies
and Practices.

The working agreement states that the University of Hawaii at
Manoa undergraduate admissions policies and procedures fall under the joint
purview of the Faculty Senate and the Admissions and Records Office. The
Manoa Faculty Senate's Committee on Academic Policy and Planning has created
a standing Subcommittee on Admissions to provide faculty oversight for
admissions policies and practices and related matters. The Subcommittee
shall meet regularly with representatives of the admissions office to review
existing policies and practices, consider proposed changes, and address
outstanding issues and concerns. As appropriate, the Subcommittee shall
prepare recommendations for action by the Manoa Faculty Senate. In particular,
all changes to admissions policies shall be forwarded via CAPP and the
SEC to the Manoa Faculty Senate for review and action.

CAPP's summary of the resolution is that it approves what already
exists, and by approving it the Senate can change and amend admissions
policy later.

Vote was 26 yes, 3 no, and 2 abstentions.

8. Strategic Plan Resolution: Eldon Wegner reported the
Manoa Strategic Plan is being discussed, CAPP has not spent much time on
it, and CAPP has a resolution that indicates the significance of Senate
participation in the review. The resolution was:

In regard to the document, "The University of Hawaii Manoa Vision
and Strategic Objectives in the UH Manoa Strategic Plan 1998-2007, be it
resolved it is mandatory that there be Faculty Senate participation in
policy development and planning in implementing the Manoa Strategic Plan.

Discussion from the floor involved the lack of information about the
Manoa strategic plan and the vote on the resolution failed with 11 yes,
13 no votes.

The Manoa strategic plan is available at www2.hawaii.edu/supevc and
responses can be sent to Tom Bopp at tbopp@hawaii.edu

9. Dean Smith, Interim Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs/Executive
Vice Chancellor, addressed the Senate on a range of issues related
to the budget situation, rumors of program cuts, and University responses
to the budget situation.

The threat of budget cuts is serious, events are overtaking us, newspapers
report practically every day what might be happening next at UH, and somehow
while this is happening we need to adapt creatively to changes in our environment.
The positive view is this a maturing of a research university.

Any University restructuring, Smith said, should (1) provide excellence
in undergraduate education, (2) maintain strong research activities, (3)
lead the State's economic recovery, (4) offer numerous professional programs,
(5) meet land grant expectations, (6) provide expertise on public issues,
and (7) compete in Division 1 athletics. The UH is trying to reduce expenditures,
raise revenues, and there is little room for tolerance of inefficiencies.
Some consolidations are underway (CCECS and Summer Session), and others
are under review (TIM and CBA, Arts and Sciences, Medical School/ Cancer
Center/PBRC/Public Health). If UH has a 10 percent budget cut, closures
of programs are inescapable. Even at a 5 percent budget reduction some
closures may occur. Only the BOR has the authority to close programs. The
process to be observed is (1) faculty input sought, (2) Executive Vice
Chancellor recommends actions to President, (3) Faculty Senate and Unions
consulted, and (4) the President recommends action to the BOR. Program
evaluation criteria will be (1) centrality, (2) comparative advantage,
(3) demand, (4) cost, (5) effectiveness, and (last but not least) (6) quality.
Additional administrative evaluation criteria are (1) instructional impact,
(2) availability elsewhere in the State and is it a viable alternative,
(3) program quality (very important, we want to come out a better institution
and will not reduce a high quality program) and (4) faculty recommendations.
It should be crystal clear that BOR Policy means commitments to students
in programs shall be met.

Dean Smith described expectations for the coming year in the areas of
market driven degree programs, consolidation of related programs, selected
program closures (How much depends on the budget, but we cannot keep dragging
everything down with across the board cuts), and changes in faculty appointment
policy. At present faculty are I or R. Smith sees a single system with
faculty moving from I to R, or R to I, as careers proceed, and/or needs
of the university change.

Discussion for the floor followed. Dean Smith was asked whether the
"vertical Cut" committees had considered cuts in the administration. He
responded that "I don't think they have." He has looked in his office at
duplicative staff positions and he has tried to trim as much as possible.

Cuts take time. What if we get a cut on July 1? What do we do? Dean
Smith's response was that Deans have been told we may have substantial
cuts, and "I can't answer beyond that."

If we cut vertically, how do we meet the needs of students? Dean Smith's
reply was that workload might increase and class size increase. undergraduate
education? "I can't give

Golden handshake retirements? Incentive early retirement is in place
now. It is one year at a time, for three years.

Why are we looking at Division 1 for Athletics, and will the response
to the budget hurt the athletic efforts on gender equity? Dean Smith replied
That John Burns set us on this path and that Donna Shalala while Chancellor
at the University of Wisconsin supported athletics as a way of communicating
with the public and encouraging alumni support. Regarding gender equity,
we are obligated to meet expectations, and we will.

10. Resolution in Support of Independent Learners: Tom Ramsey
introduced at resolution from the SEC to make credit by exam more realistic
and hopefully more available.

The vote was 25 yes, 0 no, and 0 abstentions.

11. Meeting was adjourned at 5:35

Respectively, Submitted,

Steve Dawson, Secretary.

Resolution from the Subcommittee on Admissions of the Committee on Academic Policy and Planning

WHEREAS heretofore there has been no formal procedure for establishing,
approving or revising admissions policy, and

WHEREAS heretofore there has been no formal faculty oversight of admissions
policy and the last WASC accreditation report made note of this as an item
needing improvement, and

WHEREAS the Committee on Academic Policy and Planning has established
a Subcommittee on Admissions to provide this faculty oversight, and

WHEREAS the Subcommittee on Admissions and the office of Admissions
and Records has a signed working arrangement, and

WHEREAS the attached statement of Policies and Practices constitutes
the actual admissions policies and practices currently in effect, and

WHEREAS these policies compare reasonably well with admissions requirements
at comparable schools, and

WHEREAS it is good to begin the process of there actually being faculty
oversight for admissions policies,

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the attached statement of Admissions Policies and
Procedures should be approved as the official University of Hawai`i at
Manoa Admissions Policies and Practices.

Resolution on the Reorganization of Summer Session and the College
of Continuing Education and Community Service

WHEREAS, the merger of Summer Session and the College of Continuing
Education into a single college will consolidate administrative functions
in an efficient and cost-effective manner; and

WHEREAS, the new unit will have the responsibility to strengthen the
University's efforts to meet the needs of non-traditional students, expand
distance education offerings, and provide leadership and support for faculty
who use technology to deliver courses; and

WHEREAS, the proposal for the merger does not address perceived inadequacies
in the current academic program of the continuing education program of
the University of Hawaii at Manoa;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Faculty Senate of the University
of Hawaii at Manoa approves the proposed merger of Summer Session and the
College of Continuing Education and Community Service. However, during
this process of reorganization, we call on the administration to attend
to needed changes in the continuing education program, including exploring
policy changes and other steps regarding the following possibilities:

1. expansion of an evening and weekend academic program to offer
a greater range of degrees;

2. closer working relationships and shared responsibility with
the academic departments and programs of UH-Manoa for the continuing education
curriculum to assure an appropriate mix of courses; and

3. an option for regular UH-Manoa students to take continuing
education courses without financial penalty.

Resolution in Support of Independent Learners

Whereas Credit by Examination can help accommodate non-traditional students,
facilitate distance learning, and substitute for the transfer of credits
from non-accredited and foreign institution,

Whereas, although independent learning is a relatively rare phenomenon,
the island fragmentation of the State of Hawaii's physical isolation from
the world market make it imperative that UH embrace independent learners,

Whereas each examination normally takes one full day by a faculty member
as well as time on the part of departmental staffs and administrators,

Whereas the current fee for Credit by Examination is $15 per examination
for one course,

Whereas CLEP examinations, whose current fees are $61, are appropriate
for giving credit to students for work done in high school, are limited
to introductory courses and sometimes restricted to students who have accumulated
fewer than 24 credit courses,

Whereas the fee charged for Credit by Examination hardly begins to compensate
the faculty and department which agree to write and administer the examination
for their time,

Whereas some UHM departments now have active policies against Credit
by Examination,

Be it resolved that, to provide good incentives to accommodate independent
learners,

1. The decision to make Credit by Examination available in any particular
instance shall remain a departmental decision and be strictly voluntary
on the part of faculty.

2. The fee for Credit by Examination shall be a percentage of the in-state
tuition rate on a credit hour basis; this percentage shall be initially
set at 50 % and adjusted experimentally for maximum accommodation of independent
learners.

3. The fee for Credit by Examination shall be allowed to vary among
departments to accommodate different cost structures and markets.

4. The revenue from each instance of Credit by Examination should continue
to go to the Department and Faculty administering the particular examination.

5. Statistics of department efficiencies and workload shall include
credit hours granted by the Credit by Examination process.

The Testing Center, which administers CLEP examinations, receive a commendation
for providing excellent service and meeting a significant need. The Testing
Center is especially to be commended for scheduling CLEP examinations on
a monthly basis and for having, due to local administration of the examinations,
the flexibility to often accommodate students who apply late for a particular
examination.